Tbilisi

A blend of old-world charm and energy

Tbilisi stands as Georgia’s capital along the winding Kura River. The city mixes centuries-old stone houses with modern cafes and art galleries. Walking through Old Town reveals colorful balconies, bustling markets and small churches topped by distinctive domes. Local cuisine features hearty khinkali dumplings and fragrant khachapuri bread baked in a clay oven. The atmosphere feels relaxed yet energetic as people gather at riverside parks or sip tea in quiet courtyards. Tbilisi’s mix of history, culture and friendly locals makes it easy to explore without feeling rushed.

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City in Georgia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.6

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	7

Read details

3/5

English is widely spoken among younger generations and in tourist areas. However, in local markets and among older residents, knowledge of English is limited, so basic Georgian or Russian phrases can be helpful.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Tbilisi Summary

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Strong in historic architecture and food culture. Explore colorful old town streets, visit hilltop churches, relax in sulfur baths and enjoy traditional Georgian cuisine.

Place score

7.5

Best at:

Local cuisine

Street food

Guided tours

Markets

Walkable

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

💻 8

Digital Nomads

Georgia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Georgian Lari (GEL) £1 ≈ GEL 3.45
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Georgia, especially in larger cities and tourist areas. Credit cards are commonly used in hotels, restaurants, and shops. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated in Georgia, but not mandatory. A 5-10% tip is common in restaurants, and taxi drivers may expect small tips for good service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is prohibited in some areas of Georgia, but it is generally accepted in parks and other public spaces. Alcohol is commonly consumed in restaurants and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces but allowed in designated outdoor areas.

Independence Day (26 May)	Celebrates Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union
Christmas (7 January)	Orthodox Christmas, widely celebrated

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Yandex
Other:	Georgia is known for its stunning landscapes, ancient history, and unique culture. Popular attractions include the Caucasus mountains, vineyards, and historic monasteries.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Tbilisi, Georgia

❄️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

☀️

Apr

🌦️

May

☀️

Jun

🔥

Jul

🔥

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	May - June, Sep. - Oct.
Shoulder season:	March - April, July - Aug., Nov.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Tbilisoba city festival with wine, food and music, usually early to mid October

Mountain day trips (Kazbegi, Gudauri) can be cut off by snow November to April, ski season December to April

Grape harvest (rtveli) with wine tastings in Kakheti, September to October

Don't miss

🏰 Ride the cable car to Narikala Fortress for city views
🏘️ Wander the colorful streets of the Old Town
♨️ Relax in the historic sulfur baths of Abanotubani
🌉 Cross the modern Bridge of Peace over the Kura River
🍷 Taste traditional khachapuri and Georgian wine at a local restaurant
🎡 Ride the funicular to Mtatsminda Park and enjoy the sunset

You've been here?

Why travel to Tbilisi?

Tbilisi offers a fascinating mix of history, culture and a vibrant atmosphere. Its Old Town is a maze of charming alleyways, quirky cafes and historic landmarks, while the city’s sulfur baths offer a perfect way to relax after a day of exploring. The Georgian food and wine are legendary and the hospitality of the locals makes visitors feel instantly welcome. Whether you're into history, food or just want to experience a city that feels truly alive, Tbilisi has something for you.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Narikala Fortress
This historic fortress offers panoramic views of Tbilisi's winding streets and ancient architecture. Visitors can explore its stone walls, learn about Georgian history and enjoy sunset vistas over the city from this iconic landmark.
2 Chronicle of Georgia
3 Mtatsminda Park
4 Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre
5 Holy Trinity Cathedral
6 Bridge of Peace
7 Old Tbilisi
8 Metekhi Church
9 Flea Market Dry Bridge

🎡Places for activities

1 Chronicle of Georgia
2 Fabrika
3 Lower station of Mtatsminda aerial tramway

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 National Botanical Garden
2 Turtle lake
3 Lisi Lake
4 Leghvtakhevi Waterfall
5 Sololaki Hill
6 Algeti National Park

🛍️Shopping

1 CityMall Saburtalo
2 Gallery
3 Flea Market Dry Bridge
4 Bazari
5 Meidan Bazaar
6 Tbilisi Mall

🎈Events

Tbilisi Open Air (Music Festival)
Tbilisoba (City Celebration)
New Wine Festival
Art-Gene Festival
Tbilisi Jazz Festival
Georgian Folk Festival
Tbilisi International Film Festival
Christmas and New Year Markets
Tbilisi Fashion Week
GEM Fest (Electronic Music)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Carry a scarf; churches and monasteries often require modest clothing.
Old Town is very walkable but hilly, so pack sturdy shoes and plan extra time for steep cobbled streets.
Learn a few Georgian phrases and expect limited card acceptance in small shops; always keep some lari cash available.
Schedule an evening sulphur-bath visit in Abanotubani, then walk up to Narikala Fortress for sunset views over the whole city.

How to travel to Tbilisi

Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) is the main gateway, with connections to major European and Asian cities. A train, bus and taxis connect the airport to the city center. Overland options include trains and buses from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Access summary

From Tbilisi Airport (TBS): Taxi 25–30 minutes; bus 337 about 60–75 minutes.
From Yerevan: Direct buses or minibuses, typically around 5–6 hours.
From Batumi: Georgian Railways fast trains to Tbilisi, usually about 5–5.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Tbilisi

Tbilisi offers a range of accommodations from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxury hotels. The Old Town is great for historic charm, while Vake and Vera are more modern and residential. Fabrika Hostel is a popular social hub for travelers.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Shota@Rustaveli Boutique Hotel

9.3

ibis Styles Tbilisi Center

9.1

Sole Palace Tbilisi

8.7

Holiday Inn Express Tbilisi Avlabari By IHG

9.2

Brosse Garden

9.1

The Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi

8.6

Royal Tulip Hotel & Casino, Tbilisi

8.6

ibis budget Tbilisi Center

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Tbilisi

Tbilisi has an affordable and efficient public transport system, including buses, minibuses (marshrutkas) and a metro system. Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Bolt are widely used. The city is walkable in many areas, but the hills can be challenging.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-50 %

Daily expenses in Tbilisi are around 50% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+7 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to GEL) is 7% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now is more expensive compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£32	£64	£161
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£23	£45
🍝 Food per day	£19	£38	£105
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£3	£11

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£15
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£7.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£6.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6
☕ Cappuccino	£2.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.27
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£6.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.40
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£22
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£7.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Tbilisi is generally safe, but be cautious of pickpockets in busy areas. Taxi scams can occur, so use ride-hailing apps. Avoid political demonstrations and be aware of stray dogs in some neighborhoods.

Health & Medical

Medical care in Tbilisi is improving, with several private hospitals offering good service. Tap water is officially safe, but bottled water is preferred by many. No major health risks, but travel insurance is recommended.

Accessibility

Many streets are hilly and cobblestoned, making accessibility challenging. Public transport is not always wheelchair-friendly, though some newer buses have ramps. Major tourist sites have varying levels of accessibility.

Tap water

Tap water is officially safe to drink, but some locals prefer bottled water. Public drinking fountains exist but are not widespread. Carry a refillable bottle if needed.